The Utilization of Peanut Shells (Arachis Hypogea)

as Medium for Tree-Free Recycled Paper

A Science Investigatory Project

Presented to

Mrs. Clarissa Mae Cortes-Gonzales

Lo-ok National Highschool, Lapu-Lapu City

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Course

Research 8

Presented By

Beñanosa, Norren

Brian, Dianne

Carsido, Jeraiza

Cabagnot, John Andrei

Decembrano, Christine

Mangubat, Jielyn Joy

Sosmeña, Rubie

Tangub, Christine Joy

8 Darwin
June 2023
 CHAPTER l

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Paper is a basic necessity throughout all students; it is not just a tool for SATs
(Standard Assessment Tasks), but also a key component of learning aids in the academic
world. Paper is a thin sheet material that is made by mechanically or chemically
processing cellulose fibers derived from wood, rags, grasses, or other vegetable sources
in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fiber evenly distributed on
the surface, followed by pressing and drying. Papers are meant to plot planes a common
ground for writing of students, teachers, artists, and even used for packaging. Paper is a
generally available stationary commodity, hence the constant exploitation of spruce,
birch, and pine trees for this purpose can have tremendous negative environmental
effects.

The consumption of pulp and paper is anticipated to quadruple worldwide between

2010 and 2060. The quantity of waste paper will remain the same. The burden on the
world's forests, which are currently under severe stress and are only growing worse, will
intensify as paper output rises. A total of 386 million hectares of forest were degraded
worldwide from 2001 to 2019. (in all forest types combined). Since 2000, the number of
trees has decreased by about 10% as a result of this loss.

In the case of paper, it also requires tree cutting. One of the major environmental
issues we currently have is deforestation. Papermaking uses 42% of the total wood
harvested worldwide. Does it really make sense to destroy our life-supporting trees to
produce this item?

Therefore, because of the unending issue about deforestation, the researchers

thought of a new way to help preserve trees while continuing the production of papers
in the same time.

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), often referred to as the groundnut, goober, pindar,
or monkey nut in the UK, is a legume crop produced primarily for its edible seeds. In the
tropics and subtropics, it is widely grown and significant to both small and major
commercial producers. Due to its high oil content, it is categorized as both a grain
legume[4] and an oil crop[5]. The world produced 44 million tonnes of shelled peanuts
annually in 2016, with China accounting for 38% of the total. Peanut plants grow their
pods underground (geocarpy), which is unusual for legume crop plants. Carl Linnaeus, a
botanist, gave peanuts the species name hypogaea, which translates to "beneath the
soil," in recognition of this feature.

The production of peanuts dates back to the Spanish Colonial Age in the Philippines,
where they have long been a prominent crop. One of the main field legumes cultivated
by nearby farmers is this one. According to the research of food nutritionists, peanuts
are rich in nutrients, offering over 30 vital nutrients and phytonutrients. Niacin, foliate,
fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus are all present in good amounts in
peanuts. Moreover, they naturally lack salt and trans fats and have a protein content of
roughly 25%.

In the Philippines, peanuts can be grown all year long as long as production inputs,
particularly the need for water, are adequately accessible (PCARR, 1978). The dry
season harvest (October to early November) often produces bigger yields and higher-
quality beans than the rainy season crop. This is because the crop needs more sunshine
for vegetative growth and reproductive development as the number of rainy days
decreases over the season (Opulencia, 1962; Cadelina, 1964; Lalap, 1972).

When planted in the wet season, peanuts have a propensity to become viney and
vegetative and to yield fewer pods. The pods are typically exposed to bad weather,
where they could decay and sprout in the field (Lalap, 1972). In terms of bean quantity
and quality, February is the optimum month to plant peanuts if additional irrigation is
available (Velasco et al., 1972; Cagampang and Lantican, 1975).

Humans naturally assume that a peanut's shell is useless once the peanut has been
removed, but what if there is another use for peanut shells? Today, waste is dispersed
everywhere. Several disposal methods have been looked for with environmental
concerns in mind. The production of food and materials generates a significant amount
of waste during agricultural practices, but this waste or by-product can be recovered and
frequently upgraded to useful products (Gunjal et al., 2012). Coming up with another
good idea to innovate peanut shells can improve human living and the environment.
 The key product in the creation of an alternative to conventional paper will be peanut
shells. According to scientific research, peanut shells have a variety of purposes. One of
them is the use of peanut shells as fertilizer. It can be used as fertilizer for plant growth
because it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and
other elements. However, peanut shells decompose slowly and are difficult for plants to
use directly.

In the vast rural areas, people regard it like rubbish and discard it. Moreover,
peanuts can disintegrate for five to seven days under the influence of fungi (aspergillus
fumigatus) and produce high-quality organic fertilizer. Its efficacy is superior to fertilizer
prepared from bagasse and straw.

The purpose of this investigation, according to the researchers, is to determine

whether peanut shells—which are typically discarded or unused—could be a useful
alternative for trees in the production of paper.

It attempts to reduce the number of trees cut down for the manufacture of papers
because around 60,000 trees are required to produce 15 billion sheets of paper globally
(The Economist, 2016). Papers created from peanut shells are primarily intended to be
an additive in the production of paper without using any trees.

In 2016, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 4Statistical yearbook reported
that 27,660,802 hectares were used to produce 43,982,066 T of peanuts. With a global
production rate of 65.3%, peanuts are primarily farmed in Asia. Being one of the major
sources of industrial waste (shells), they are frequently burned, discarded, or left to
degrade. Researchers are interested in finding uses for peanut shells rather than
ignoring its potential. In countries where peanuts are produced, shells constitute a
significant industrial waste. Their use in creating paper lessens their environmental
impact and acts as a catalyst for resolving environmental issues.

https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/paper-waste-facts

http://scinet.science.ph/union/Downloads/Anu-nut%20shell%20as%20

http://crsps.net/wp-content/downloads/Peanut/Inventoried%208.8/7-1998-7-1684

https://www.peanutsusa.com/about-peanuts/the-peanut-industry3/7-peanuts-a-brief-
history.html#
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-08-19-9908170732-story.html

https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAJ079.pdf

https://docslib.org/doc/11046360/peanut-in-the-philippine-food-system-a-macro-study

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Prasad-
Gunjal/publication/237020345_A_cross_sectional_study_to_determine_the_profile

https://www.fao.org/home/en

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjmmvm24cf9AhW62
0wCHVAVCpgYABAAGgJ0bQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESaeD2mce-Yvn-
g2aaQCSdD8LaWTK98zzgXwqY9popYQxl9OS5s7ZY7aTFgLrLvzlxZbqBCZVBrTSLGyQ42c2
NltMxGJpiDgyN02Cuvy1u_CYxKYnf3X21Vq_GaOxTB05N30J7CKJ96fiKKQ&sig=AOD64_19
z4eAO8QtRYSphsdjp9Wr510CNw&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwiesvG24cf9AhX3UPUHHTh5Al0
Q0Qx6BAgJEAE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut
Statement of the Problem

This study aims to experiment the result in utilizing peanut shells as medium for tree-
free recycled paper. Specifically, sought to the following questions:

1.What is the significance of peanut shells in recycling paper?

2.How long will it take for the paper to dry under the sunlight with peanut shells?

3.What is the result of adding peanut shells as an ingredient to the following:

3.1.Texture

3.2.Durability

3.3.Color

3.4.Scent

4.How usable is the recycled dried paper when added with peanut shells?

Tree cutting or deforestation is one of the major problems in this nation, which is the
main reason the researchers conducted this study. Moreover, to recycle paper in order to
reduce the amount of rubbish and garbage produced from it.
Hypothesis

Ha-

The Peanut Shells (Arachis hypogaea L.) are effective in making Tree-free recycled
paper.

Ho-

The Peanut Shells (Arachis hypogaea L. ) are not effective in making Tree-free recycled
paper.
Significance of the Study

The purpose of this study is to show that peanut shells may be used to create paper
rather than wood from trees. The results of the study are therefore advantageous to the
following.

Students- Everyone uses paper and purchasing it from a store is quite expensive in
comparison to this experimental tree-free paper. It also improves their knowledge and
skills in terms of the importance of nature.

Community- with the help of the information inside of this study. The community
would gain knowledge about recycling paper with the help of peanut shells and be
influenced to do so. Aside from helping the environment and the community, converting
peanut shells into papers would be advantageous.

Environment- This research study will greatly benefit the environment because
garbage waste will be used as a substitute material for making paper. It will also help to
reduce flooding, tree cutting, and deforestation.

Future researchers- This research will serve as a guide for future studies that they will
conduct. It will also serve as their basis for their next investigatory project.
Scope and Limitations

The peanut shell (arachis hypogaea L.) was investigated as a free medium for tree-
free recycled paper in this study. This research assists students at Look National High
School in purchasing low-cost paper. It will also help prevent the cutting of trees as well
as floods and other natural disasters. This study was carried out in Lo-ok National High
Schools during the school year 2022-2023.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of using peanut shells
(arachis hypogaea L.) as a medium for producing tree-free recycled paper. The study
will evaluate the paper's quality and compare it to traditional paper sources.

This study was conducted with the help of researchers from February 19 to June 2,
2023. The researchers are juniors from Look National High School. This study is all about
creating recycled paper from peanut shells (Arachis hypogea ).
Definition of Terms

Carton - a kind of container that is often made of paperboard and recycled paper is
created by combining it with peanut shells to create recycled paper.

Deforestation - One of the most significant environmental issues of our day is

deforestation. Paper production uses 42% of the world's total wood crop.

Food coloring – a tool added to the peanut papers to color them so that they may
compare peanut paper made entirely of peanuts to peanut-carton paper.

Fertilizer - Legumes like peanuts naturally fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms
that other plants can use.

Rolling Pin – a device used to crush or to pulverize peanut shells.

Mold and Deckle – a device that is employed to gather each sheet of pulp during the
making of handmade paper.

Pulp - The cellulose fibers in wood, fiber crops, scrap paper, and rags are separated
chemically or mechanically to create pulp, a lignocellulosic fibrous material.

Recycled paper - a procedure used to create new paper goods from discarded paper.

Substitute - It is possible to utilize peanut shells in place of wood pulp as a

replacement.

Waste – waste generated by the thrown-away peanut shells.